A dream. I was in another one. Something about this dream felt familiar: the blue ambiance, the lone velvet desk, the giant cerulean shuttered doors below an arrowed floor indicator. The last time I felt like this was my time inside a blue limousine. Was this the same type of room?
A lone woman with short blond hair, golden eyes, and an indigo hotel attendant outfit sat cross-legged on the desk. If she were not moving, one would assume she was a lifelike doll that eerily fit the room's ambiance. Her golden eyes looked towards me. She did not seem surprised but rather curious.
"Oh my, what is this? A stowaway, perhaps? I cannot recall the last time someone came here. How perplexing," the attendant said.
The attendant gazed me up and down. A playful smile cracked on her face.
"But as my master said, everything that happens here happens for a reason. If that is true, your appearance here is no mere accident," the attendant continued.
The attendant jumped off the desk and floated down to the ground as though gravity had no control over her. The book she held resembled one owned by another beautiful woman who shared similar qualities with the attendant.
"I'm afraid my master is not here at this time, but perhaps an introduction is still needed," the attendant stated.
The attendant cleared her throat before preparing her next time.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room," the attendant spoke masculinely.
I knew there was something familiar about this room.
"I do say I sound exactly like my master. You would do well to shower me with praise," the attendant said in a mighty matter.
Honestly, she sounded nothing like the head of the room.
"I can tell from your eyes that you do not believe I did a proper job. How rude You are supposed to lie and state what a terrific actor I was. Your harsh, callous eyes can bring a woman to tears," the attendant sarcastically remarked.
Despite her sharp tongue, the attendant was enjoying herself.
"I do not come here often, yet you came opportunistically. Perhaps one could consider fate. At least, that is what my older sister would say," the attendant continued.
Was she someone that I met before?
"You have the same aura as him, which means you are also bound to a chain of events that would no doubt alter your life as you know it. While I cannot directly change your trajectory, I can offer guidance as part of my duties in this room. So, tell me, child of destiny, as one who bears responsibility to carve one's path, what is your name," the attendant asked in a sultry manner.
I informed her of my name.
Episode 1
I heard my alarm clock ring and forced myself up. I opened the curtains of my apartment window. I reminded myself I was not home anymore and would need to get up without assistance. I looked outside the window at the unfamiliar streets. I was getting accustomed to living by myself in the heart of Tokyo.
Changing to a fresh set of clothes and grabbing a quick energy drink, I headed out the door and took the train to the university. It had been about a month since I entered the university. I still remember the odd feeling of going from a classroom packed with aspirating students to a large lecture hall with endless seating space. Because we could choose what course we wanted, there was more freedom to take whatever classes we wanted. However, sitting in a half-empty classroom unnerved me. I needed time to adjust to how common a sighting like this would be throughout my university life.
I headed towards the school cafeteria after my final class for the day. After those tedious morning classes, I needed fuel to continue my day. Buying a simple lunch set, I sat by the window and enjoyed my meal. I observed the student interaction in the cafeteria, monitoring the cliques already formed in the various tables. I have always eaten in the classroom with my friends, so I rarely visited my high school's cafeteria. I pondered if it was always that vibe.
Two students my age walked over to me and sat across from me at my table as I stared into space and looked outside the window. The male student wore glasses and a buttoned vest and had his hair slicked back. The female student had a modest look, wearing a dress over her t-shirt.
"Mind if we sit here," the flashy boy said.
"You are already sitting down. Would my response change anything," I retorted.
"Apologies for the abrupt invitation," the modest girl replied.
The two students sitting next to me were Natsuki and Hitomi. The three of us were in the same political studies curriculum. I often met them in my class, which was how I got to know them at the start of university.
"So, what is a glum guy like you spacing out about? Are you stuck on a homework assignment," Natsuki asked.
"Why would you care," I questioned.
"Right, sorry, I forgot you do not normally think about homework anyway," Natsuki laughed.
"Cut it's out, Natsuki. I am sorry about his behavior, Tai," Hitomi replied.
"No worries. I'm used to it by now," I responded.
"But truly, if there's anything on your mind, you're more than happy to speak to us about it," Hitomi warmly spoke.
"I feel like I'm going through the motions of life right now. I go to school, work, return home, and do the same thing the next day. Where's the excitement in all of that," I asked.
"Tai, I don't know if you know this, but you're a freshman at university. You're supposed to relax and enjoy your youth. You're growing up too early," Natsuki remarked.
"Easy for you to say. Last I heard, you're in a prestigious internship," I said.
"Well, when you are as smart as me, those opportunities come often," Natsuki smirked.
"Stop gloating, Natsuki," Hitomi said sternly. "Have you tried picking up a hobby? You said you used to be on a soccer team in high school. We don't have a soccer team here, but other sports teams would appreciate your athleticism."
"I'll think about it. Thank you," I replied.
"Seriously, Tai, if you grow up too fast, you might miss the important things in life," Natsuki said.
After hanging out outside campus, I went to the train station and arrived at a pachinko store. Changing to my work clothes in the locker room, I headed outside as a staff member, taking care of orders while cleaning the aisles full of buckets of metal balls. Work was tiring but necessary. I had to pay for my apartment one way or the other, and this was the first location that allowed me to work for them. The pay was decent, but I needed to work hard if I wanted to pay for personal things in addition to rent and bills.
After a long day of work, I returned to the train station. I wondered what I should get for dinner today. My apartment did not have a kitchen, and I wasn't interested in cooking. I should visit the convenience store once I arrived at my stop to pick up food before heading home. As I headed towards the train station, I spotted a familiar face. Although I had only seen him a few times, I could not mistake the leader-like aura he possessed.
"Yu," I shouted down the street.
Yu turned when he heard me call his name.
"Tai, it's been a while since I last saw you. How have you been," Yu asked.
"Not too bad. How about yourself?"
"I'm doing fine, thanks for asking. What were you doing here?"
"I just got off of work not too long ago."
"Really? Where do you work?"
"At a pachinko parlor."
"I thought you needed to be eighteen to work in those locations."
"I'm quite past that."
"Really? Forgive me; I thought you were my age."
"Really? How old are you?"
"I'm 17."
"Then, we're not so different. I'm 18 and already starting college."
"If that's the case, you would be my senior."
"Don't think about it like that. I'd rather we still treat each other as equals. Hey, are you doing anything tonight? Why don't I take you out to eat today? I'll be my treat."
"It's okay. I wouldn't want to cause too much trouble."
"Don't worry, I insist. Besides, I was wondering what I wanted to eat today anyway. It'd be a nice change of pace to eat out today."
"In that case, I'll take your offer. Thank you."
"Great. I know a good barbecue place not too far away from here. Shall we go?"
"Yes, let's depart."
Yu and I headed down to the shopping district near the train station. We entered the barbecue restaurant I mentioned and took our seats.
"The food is on me, so order whatever you want," I said.
"Thank you, Tai. Sorry for bothering you while you were busy," Yu replied.
"Don't mention it. My friend told me about this place, and I heard complimentary reviews about it, so I always wanted to try it. So, what have you been doing these days? Are you here to sightsee?"
"I'm from here."
"Really? I'm sorry. I thought you were from Inaba like everyone else."
"I had to be in Inaba last year due to family circumstances. Normally, I would go to school here."
"I see. How is everyone in Inaba? Are they doing well?"
"They seem to be doing fine. I'm planning on visiting them during Golden Week."
"That's right. I forgot Golden Week was coming up soon. Time flies when you are busy with school and work."
"How about your group? How have they been doing?"
"They seem to be doing alright. Kari usually converses with me daily. I check up on everyone else now and then. These days, we all seem busy doing our own thing."
"If you're free during Golden Week, would you like to come with me to visit Inaba? I'm sure the group would like to meet you guys properly. Your last outing together wasn't as ideal as I would like."
"That's fair. When we first met, we fought with our lives on the line. Even during our ski trip, something had to happen to make our trip unideal."
"The TV World, huh? Have you seen the Midnight Channel lately?"
"No, and I plan to keep it that way. The Midnight Channel strengthened us mentally, but the events leading to it hurt us where they mattered most. Although I am grateful for my time again, I do not want my friends and I to experience that feeling again."
"I understand. When you informed me that you were also seeing something similar here, I was concerned at first. Even when I am back here, I watch the television at midnight on a rainy day. Although nothing happened yet, I guess it became a habit for me."
"I know what you mean. You know, I've been meaning to break my stagnant life. Perhaps I will visit Inaba for Golden Week."
"That would be great. The more the merrier."
"I'll also ask my friends to see if they can come. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try to grab as many people as possible."
"Thank you, and sorry for the sudden request."
"It's fine. I'm sure my friends don't mind it. I'm sure they're interested."
"It's a small town, but it is warm and friendly. I'm sure you and your group would enjoy it."
"Hello, are we ready to order," a waiter asked.
"Yes, we are. I'll pay for today, so order whatever you want," I told you.
"Thank you. You're too kind," Yu replied.
After dinner, I entered my apartment and texted everyone about what happened today.
"Are you guys free during Golden Week," I asked.
"Hey, Tai, long time no talk," Mimi texted.
"What's on your mind," Sora asked.
"I just met with Yu today, and I was wondering if you guys are interested in visiting Inaba during Golden Week," I stated.
"You met up with Yu. That's impressive," Izzy replied.
"Remind me who Yu is," TK asked.
"We fought alongside him during Christmas and Valentine's Day," Kari responded.
"Oh, I remember now. Those were good times," TK said.
"There was nothing good about them," Matt responded.
"Agreed," Joe replied.
"You know, I've been meaning to check Inaba out, so I'm happy to go," Izzy typed.
"Yes, let's go on another adventure. I am down for it," Mimi exclaimed.
"My band is taking Golden Week off to relax and meet up with family, so I should be free," Matt said.
"My flower arrangement sessions are nearing its end. I'll head to Tokyo once I finish my classes and meet up with you guys there," Sora replied.
"TK and I don't have school today, so we're free," Kari said.
"Don't I have a say in this," TK asked.
"Great, the gang is back together again," Mimi exclaimed.
"Not quite. I don't think I can make it," Joe replied.
"Did something happen," Sora asked.
"There's a big project I am a part of that needs my attention in the next few weeks. I'll need as much time as possible to work on it," Joe explained.
"Don't worry about us. Focus on your schoolwork. We know how much it means to you," Matt replied.
"We'll be sure to send plenty of pictures in the chat to let you know what you've missed," Kari answered.
"Thanks for understanding, and sorry about that," Joe said.
"It's okay. I'm sure we'll find another time to hang out at some point," Sora replied.
"So, when are we meeting Yu," TK asked.
"We're meeting up at the train station at noon. That should give everyone time to get there," I explained.
"Sound like a plan," Matt texted.
"This is going to be so much fun," Mimi replied.
"Should we bring food with us," Sora asked.
"I'd rather eat there just to know what the food is like," TK stated.
"I'll check out the dining options online to see what to expect there," Izzy confirmed.
"That would be very helpful," Sora responded.
"I can't wait for Golden Week," Kari said with a smiling emoji.
"Have fun, everyone," Joe said.
As promised, we met with Yu at the train station around noon. Once everyone arrived, we bought tickets for the next train to Inaba.
"It's been a while since I've been out of the city like this. The last time we did something like this, we went on a ski trip," Mimi said.
"That's when we rescued Meiko from the TV World because she wanted to disappear," Matt retorted.
"Way to bring up the negative portions of our adventure," TK sighed.
"I'm sure this trip will be smooth sailing. If I recall, Inaba is quite a small town. I'm sure it's quiet and peaceful there," Sora explained.
"Need I remind you that they went through the same Midnight Channel experience we did," Matt remarked.
"Speaking of, I was surprised that you were from Tokyo. Given how busy the city can be, I'd imagine we would have bumped into each other at some point," Izzy said to Yu.
"That's what happened a few days ago. Tai was the one who spotted me," Yu explained.
"Nice catch, Tai," Mimi said, thumbs up.
"You make it sound like I found a lost pet," I replied.
"Reading about Inaba can only tell us so much. What is your experience there," Sora asked Yu.
"As you've mentioned, it is a small town, so nothing much happens there. We have a local shopping district, but people shop at the Junes Department Store owned by Yosuke's family. We also have a historical inn that the town is known for. Yukiko's family owns it. Speaking of, I've asked Yukiko in advance if they have space available for you guys, and they were more than happy to accommodate you," Yu replied.
"We're staying at a historic inn? That sounds like so much fun," Mimi said.
"I was under the impression we were only going to spend a day there and return," TK replied.
"It takes quite a while to get there by train. If my calculations are correct, we should be there by sunset," Izzy stated.
"It's that far away," TK asked, surprised.
"Did you do any research before this trip," Kari questioned.
"I brought snacks in case anyone gets hungry," Sora said.
"Impressive! Leave it to Sora to think one step ahead," Mimi shouted, grabbing a bag of chips.
"I'm pretty excited to meet everyone again. I hope we get along well just like last time," I replied.
"I'm sure you will. They're just excited to see you guys, too," Yu said.
"That's good to hear," Matt responded, feeling relieved.
"I've been meaning to ask what's in the bag," TK asked Yu.
"Some souvenirs from my friends, plus a few essentials. They haven't been to Tokyo yet, so it is something to remind them about the time we've spent together," Yu explained.
"You really are a good friend, Yu," Kari replied, smiling.
"Did we bring essentials," Matt asked Sora.
"Does it look like I carry extra toothbrushes for everyone," Sora questioned, glaring back.
"I'm sure Junes has a bunch of travel merchandise that we can buy along the way to the inn," Izzy said.
"The next thing you're going to say is you didn't bring any money with you," Kari teased TK.
"Hey, I have some cash on me, but I don't know if it would be enough for our stay at the inn and all that," TK replied.
"Don't worry about paying for the inn. Everything there is free of charge, including the food and hot springs," Yu explained.
"This day just keeps getting better and better," Mimi said, grinning.
"You didn't have to go through all that trouble," Sora told Yu.
"It's the least we can do after you guys helped us during our time at the TV World. Please, let us thank you back with this," Yu said.
"Well, if you're offering, it's not like we can't refuse," Matt said.
"Truly, thank you for accommodating that for us," Sora replied.
"Don't mention it. I want all of you to enjoy your stay here and see what the town has to offer. In addition, there is a city and a beach nearby here if you are interested in things outside of town," Yu explained.
"We'll look into it when we arrive at the inn," Izzy said.
"I can tell that today is going to be a lot of fun," Mimi said.
Eventually, we arrived at Inaba. By the time we left the train, it was already sunset. We looked around the quiet train station.
"Wow, there is nothing here," TK remarked.
Kari elbowed TK from the side.
"So, what's the best way to get to the Amagi Inn? Is there a bus route? Should we grab a cab," Matt asked.
"Do you need help bringing your souvenirs to your place," I asked Yu.
"No, I should be fine," Yu replied.
"Where did you stay while you were here," Izzy asked.
"My uncle and his daughter live here," Yu responded.
"That's pretty convenient," Sora replied.
"You think his uncle would be nice enough to drop us off at the inn," TK questioned.
"His car is not big enough to fit all of his," Matt remarked.
"How are you going to get to your uncle's place," Kari asked Yu.
"I'm not sure. My uncle said he was busy, but where they live is not that far away from here. I should be able to get there before sundown," Yu explained.
"Big bro!"
We heard a girl's voice calling out to someone. An elementary student in pigtails wearing a dress over her turtleneck ran over to us with a big smile.
"Nanako, you came here all by yourself," Yu asked.
"That's right. Dad was too busy to see you, so I came instead. Welcome home! I missed you so much," Nanako said happily.
"Aw, she's so cute. Is this the niece you were talking about," Mimi asked, walking towards them.
Nanako noticed the large group behind Yu and shied behind Yu's back.
"Looks like little girls can't stand the sight of you,' TK joked to Matt.
"Stop messing with me," Matt said, pushing him away.
"It's okay, Nanako; they're good friends of mine," Yu said, trying to comfort Nanako.
Nanako eventually left Yu's side to introduce herself.
"My name is Nanako Dojima. Thank you very much for being good friends with my big bro," Nanako said with a slight bow.
"How responsible," Sora said, impressed.
"She's very mature for her age," Izzy replied.
"Hi, Nanako. I'm Kari. I hope we get along well," Kari said, smiling.
"Y-Yes, I hope we get along, too," Nanako blushed.
"And I'm Mimi. I have a good feeling we're going to become the best of friends," Mimi said, enthusiastically shaking Nanako's hand up and down.
"We don't need a miniature Mimi in our lives," Matt replied.
"And that rude old man over there is Matt. He's grumpy but has a good heart," Mimi told Nanako.
"Who are you calling rude," Matt snapped.
"That's what you choose to focus on," Sora questioned while sighing.
One by one, the rest of us introduced ourselves to Nanako.
"I'm glad to meet all of you," Nanako said, smiling.
"We probably don't want to bother this family reunion and head to the inn," I replied.
"That reminds me. Nanako, do you remember which bus stop leads to the Amagi Inn," Yu asked.
"If you go down a few blocks that way, it's the first one you see on your left," Nanako answered.
"Understood," TK replied.
"Thank you for leading us there, Nanako," Sora said.
"You're welcome. Enjoy your stay in Inaba," Nanako replied.
"See you two later," Matt said.
We waved goodbye as Yu and Nanako walked in the opposite direction.
"They have a strong connection," I said.
"Yeah, she was all over him. It's obvious that she likes him," Mimi replied.
"Well, there's no point standing around here longer. Let's head to the bus stop," Matt replied.
Once the bus arrived, we took the bus over to Amagi Inn. True to its description, it had a very historic feel to it. The wooden walls and hot steam gave the inn a rustic but ritualistic glow. Simply stepping inside the inn felt wrong because of how important it felt. When we entered the inn, one of the servers greeted us.
"Welcome to the Amagi Inn," the server said, bowing. "You must be the Narukami group. We anticipated your arrival. Thank you for taking care of and visiting the mistress."
"Narukami," I repeated, confused.
"That must be Yu's last name," Izzy replied.
"Thank you for letting us stay during this busy time," Sora said, returning the bow with her own.
"No worries. We have had a room available, and we're happy to accommodate Ms. Amagi's friends," the waitress replied.
"Who's this Ms. Amagi person," TK asked.
"According to Yu, Yukiko's family owns this inn," I explained.
"Yukiko's the one with the long, black hair, right," Kari asked.
"If her family owns this place, then that makes her royalty or something, right," Mimi questioned. "That makes her the princess of this inn. We should have brought a souvenir or something. Do you have anything like that, Sora?"
"Do I look like a bottomless bag of convenient items," Sora asked her.
"It's fine. We'll pick something up that the Junes Department Store Yu mentioned tomorrow as thanks," Matt responded.
"Please, allow me to lead you to your rooms," the server said.
"That would be wonderful. Thank you for your hospitality," Izzy replied.
The server led us to a spacious room at the back of the inn. We were impressed with how clean and well-kept the room was. It had various traditional art and decor throughout the room.
"We apologize that this is the only room available at this time. We hope it is to your liking," the server said.
"Are you kidding? This room is amazing. I love it," Mimi said, merrily exploring the room.
"I can't believe we get to stay here for free. We hit the jackpot," TK said, walking inside.
"Is there any way we can show our appreciation to Yukiko? I mean, to Ms. Amagi," I asked the server.
"The mistress is currently busy, but I'll be sure to pass on the message to her," the server replied.
"Is she assisting with managing the inn? That sounds difficult, especially around the holiday season," Sora said.
"Ms. Amagi is currently training to become the next headmistress of the inn," the server answered.
"That's very impressive," Izzy said.
"She must have a lot of passion and love for this if she's serious about taking it over," Kari stated.
"Ms. Amagi is cooking for her friends for an outing tomorrow," the server explained.
"In addition to management, she also takes care of the kitchen? Talk about dedication," I said.
"Maybe she aspires to be a chef, too," Kari told me.
"Dear heavens, I hope that's not the case," the server muttered.
"Did you say something," Matt asked.
"Oh, nothing of the sort," the server said, catching herself. "In any case, dinner will be ready for about an hour, so please relax and enjoy yourselves until then."
"Will do," TK responded.
"I am loving this trip already. Even the view from outside is gorgeous," Mimi said, opening the back door.
"Now that we're here, let's put up some ground rules," Sora said.
"Right, this side is girl's only, and that side is yours," Kari said, drawing an imaginary line while looking at us.
"But I bet Matt can cross that line whenever he wants to, right," TK snickered.
"Cut it out, will you," Matt said.
"Oh, what's this? Are we spreading juicy gossip already? Spread me the details," Mimi said.
"It's nothing. Anyway, you all go take a bath first and then come back for dinner," Sora said.
"The waitress just said dinner would be ready in an hour. Why do we need to take a bath now," I asked.
"Because we're not bathing before you, in case you get any ideas. Now, get going," Sora said, pushing us out.
"Alright, I get it. There's no need to push us," I replied.
Complying with Sora's demand, Matt, TK, Izzy, and I headed to the baths before returning for dinner.
We returned to our room after finishing dinner at the main dining hall.
"I can't believe it started raining outside. I wanted to take an open-air bath, too. It's not fair," Mimi complained.
"It's fine. We'll visit the indoor bath. It's no big deal," Sora said.
"Of course, this is a big deal. I want to relax in a warm bath while gazing at the stars. Is that too much to ask," Mimi continued.
"Come on, Mimi, let's take a bath anyway," Kari said, pushing Mimi out the door.
"You better be asleep by the time we arrive," Sora said.
"Yes, mom," I jokingly responded.
Sora glared at us before closing the door. Since there was time until I felt the need to rest, I decided to walk around the inn to see what type of amenities it had. Outside the main lobby, the only other form of entertainment was a game room with a ping-pong table and vending machines. I stood by an open window and watched the rain fall. I could not get over what Yu mentioned the other day. I remember feeling discouraged last year every time it rained at night. The need to watch the TV became commonplace. My body would occasionally do it routinely, unbeknownst to me. I've recently been able to break that trend, but talking to Yu about it only made me restless. I attempted to ease my concerns by creating small talk with the staff and guests at the inn.
"Hey, doesn't that guy look familiar to you," one of the guests said.
"He kind of looks like one of the participants in the Midnight Channel," the other guest responded.
Just as I was talking to another guest, my ears perked. Did they say what I think they said? I quickly turned around to question them; however, they walked away when they noticed my gaze.
"Is everything alright," the person I was talking to asked.
"Oh no, it's nothing. Sorry, something caught my attention," I apologized.
Although we kept talking, I could not get my mind off their statement. It was harder for me to start a conversation as dark thoughts clouded my mind.
Soon, it was nearing the dreaded hour. While all the guests were asleep and limited staff members were working, I still could not ease the tension in my chest. It was still raining outside, and my eyes stared at the TV like I wanted something to happen. As I burned my eyes onto the screen, I heard someone walk into the game room where I was spacing out.
"I thought I would find you here," Izzy said, walking up to me.
"Izzy, what brought you here," I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Perhaps it is the same reason you are here. You were thinking about the Midnight Channel, weren't you?"
"How did you know that?"
"There were obvious clues: the TV, the time, the rain. Is it bothering you that much?"
"Well, it has been a few months since that ordeal ended. I thought it was finally over, but that wasn't the case."
"What do you mean?"
"I overheard some people talking about it just now."
"Are you certain?"
"I am."
"And this is a recent event, not something that happened in the past?"
"It sounds that way. They spoke about me as a participant, like I was part of a tournament. I don't recall seeing myself in the Midnight Channel before or any of our worlds emulating that of a tournament, so I think it is brand new."
"Do you want me to tell the others about it?"
"No, I don't want them to worry. If I'm the target, there's a good chance something might happen to me now that I'm here."
"If anyone tries to do anything to you, I'm here. I'll have security footage and everything in case things go south."
"Thanks, Izzy."
"So, they said you're a participant in a fighting tournament? I wonder what your shadow is going to say about you?"
"Just the thought of it makes me shiver. I hope my shadow goes easy on me."
"They aren't known to mince words."
"Tell me about it."
Soon, the clock struck midnight. At first, nothing happened. Suddenly, the TV screen turned yellow until it eventually became clear.
"Friends turned foes collide in a desperate battle for supremacy. A new legend shall be born onto this world," an announcer shouted.
The screen immediately turned into a brightly lit arena with a boxing ring in the center of the stage. Flashing lights, smoke, and fireworks filled the stage as a familiar figure wearing an entertainer outfit, a hat, and a cape appeared from the spectacular scene. "May the strongest participant in this challenge come down," Teddie shouted.
"His words are absolute and should be obeyed! The Thrill-Seeking Indecisive Jester, Tai Kamiya," the announcer shouted.
"Who's ready for another adventure," the television Tai asked gleefully.
"A walking supercomputer that can't compute love: The Self-Absorbed Technophilic Junkie, Izzy Izumi!"
"I'm 1000 steps ahead of you," Izzy declared.
"Evacuate the dancefloor and show yourself! The Cherry-Popping Swinging Missus, Sora Takenouchi!"
"You can look but can't touch," Sora teased.
"Sing for me, my demon of music: The Nihilistic Rockstar, Matt Ishida!"
"Get your tickets never," Matt scoffed.
"A perfect world for the perfect princess: The Dominating Barbie, Mimi Tachikawa!"
"The center of the universe is here," Mimi exclaimed.
"There is no first aid for the sea of chaos: The Cowardly King of Witch Doctors, Joe Kido!"
"Who's ready for their shot," Joe asked sinisterly.
"To be, or not to be. That is the question: The Multi-Faced Mutating Philanderer, T.K. Ishida!"
"I can be whatever you want me to be," TK said flirtatiously.
"Only my brother understands the real me: The Possessive and Possessed Brother Complex Lover, Kari Kamiya!"
"Your love isn't worth my time," Kari announced.
"In a bloodthirsty battle, only one can sit on the throne of champions. The D1 Grand Prix Ultimate Fighter begins tonight!"
As soon as the broadcast ended, Izzy and I stared at the TV, dumbfounded.
*To Be Continued*